In an interview in New York on Thursday, September 24, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declined to rule out dissolving the National Assembly, which is now headed by his former ally Ousmane Sonko. He tied any such decision to how relations between state institutions evolve, as his government prepares to defend its budget choices before a parliament dominated by the Pastef party.

“Why rule out a prerogative that the Constitution grants you?” Faye replied when asked whether he was considering dissolving the Assembly. He announced neither a dissolution nor an election date. “It is all a matter of necessity or context. When the time comes, depending on what we are facing, we will decide,” he added.

His remarks follow a political rupture he openly acknowledged. Asked about the dismissal of Ousmane Sonko, his former prime minister, Faye cited “persistent differences on certain issues.” “When this loss of trust persisted, I chose another prime minister,” he explained. He nevertheless dismissed the idea that discussions with the International Monetary Fund alone caused their split.

The disagreement now also plays out in Parliament. Ousmane Sonko took the presidency of the National Assembly after leaving the government, giving him a central role in scrutinising texts put forward by the executive. Asked about a possible rejection of the amended finance bill by Pastef lawmakers, Faye defended each institution’s own responsibility: “Everyone assumes their responsibilities and the people arbitrate.”

To accusations of betrayal from some members of his former party, the president countered with his commitment as head of state. “The only thing I am capable of betraying is my oath,” he said. How the political confrontation unfolds will depend in part on how the Assembly receives the government’s financial measures.

Macky Sall at the UN: Faye defends a support that surprises

Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reaffirmed his support for his predecessor Macky Sall’s candidacy for the post of United Nations secretary-general. Despite doubts about his chances, the Senegalese president believes “the game remains open” and says he is in talks with members who will influence the choice.

To justify this position, Faye highlights Macky Sall’s international experience and Africa’s representation at the UN. “Who is better placed today to defend a better place for Africa than President Macky Sall?” he asked during his interview.

The head of state also raised the debt issue, at the heart of Senegal’s current financial difficulties. According to him, Macky Sall has “endured the torments of debt,” an experience that would make him fit to advocate reform of the international financial architecture. In this response, Faye did not address the responsibilities attributed to the former government regarding undeclared debt.